Cycle



L -6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. HILL.

CYCLE.

(No Model.)

No. 589,848. Patented Aug. 31, 187.

' 6 Sheets-Sheet 3. T. HILL.

GYULB.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 31,1897.

I72 We 7250?? my E572.

JJes. 6%)

(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 4.

T. HILL.

CYCLE.

No. 589,348 Patented Aug.t31, 1897.

TM: mumps men: 00.. PuuTo-umo. wnsumamu. n. c.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5. T.' HILL. CYCLE.

(No Model.)

No. 589,348. Patented-Aug. 31, 189'7.

I72 V6 22% fkams 15 277.

j'fimmmf I 6 Sheets-Sheet 6. T. HILL.

CYCLE.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 31, 1897.-

IW/I/en Z02 J%0ma.r 157277.

DTO-DTHU" WAShINOTON. u. c

UNITE STATES PATENT EEIcE.

THOMAS llILll, OF-RlVEB FALLS, \VISCONSIN.

CYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,348, dated August 31,1897.

Application filed June 29, i896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at River Falls, in the county of Pierce and State of WVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cycles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

My invention relates in general to cycles, but has for its especial object to generally improve that class of bicycles known as safeties.

To these ends my invention comprises the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in. the,

claims.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein, like letters referring to like parts throughout the several views Figure l is a left side elevation showing a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. ing at the machine substantially as indicated by thearrow .2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a viewin plan showing a portion of the riders seat and the steering device for the front wheel, loo k-. ing substantially as indicated bythe arrow 2 on Fig. 1, some parts being broken away, Fig. 4 is a View of the parts shown in Fig. 3,.

looking as above indicated, but illustrating a turned position of the front wheel and steering devices, some parts also being broken away. Fig. 5 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of one of the steering-handles and immediately-connected parts. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the steeringhead and immediately-connected parts. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. (i. Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line it a of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a View, partly in plan and partly in horizontal sec tion, of the front-wheel hub, some parts being broken away. Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 00 00 of Fig. 9,jlooking-in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line ca 00 of Fig. 1, looking as indicated by the arrows and showing one of the clutch devices, some parts of the same being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation look-' Serial N... 597,337. (No model.)

Figs. 12 and 13 are views, partly in section, with some parts broken away, illustrating different positions of parts of the clutch shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a plan view showing 'in detail a roller-bracket and 'antifri'ctionrollers mounted thereon. Fig. 15 is a front elevation of the bracket and rollersshown in Fig.,14. Fig. 16 is a view in rear elevation showing a portion of the front wheel and the winding-drums cooperating therewith, the

said parts being so adjusted that the flexible driving connections are working on the small members of said drums. Fig. 17is' a View in side elevation showing,diagrammatically, the parts indicated in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a View corresponding to Fig. 16, but showing'one of the larger members of the winding-drums shifted so as to cooperate with the flexible driving connections. Fig. 19 is a view in side elevation showing,diagrammatically, the

view, in rear elevation, of one of the doublefaced winding-dru ms, the sections of the same being shown in their open or spread positions. Fig. 21 is a side elevation of the parts vshown in Fig. 20, looking toward the right of the same, some parts being broken away. .Fig. 22 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 20, lookingtoward the left of said fig- ,ure. Fig. 23 is a view corresponding to'Fig. :20, but showing the sections of the doubleifaced winding-drum closed ordrawn together. Figs 24: is a vertical section taken on the line a? 00 of Fig. :23, looking toward the right of said figure. Fig. 25 is a view corresponding ,connections partially wound on the large section of the drum. Figs. 26, 27, and'28 are :views, partly in section, with some 'parts broken away, showing a portion of the large section of the double-faced winding-drum. Fig. 29 isasection taken substantially onthe line 00 x of Fig. 26, looking as indicated by the arrow. Fig. 30 is a section taken substantially on the line 00 x of Fig. 26, looking as indicated by the .arrow.. Fig. 31 is a detail View showing a portion of one of the flexible driving connections and a catch block carried thereby. Fig. 32 is a plan view of one of the pedals, showing also a cross-section of the guide-rod on which the sarne is mounted to move.

parts indicated in Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is a detail Tto Fig. 24:, but showing the flexible driving Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4C, a indicates the forward wheel, and a the rear wheel, of my improved bicycle. The rigid section of the machine-frame shown comprises the ball-head or socket a and the pair of pronged or forked braces a and a, the stem ends of which are rigidly secured one to each end of the socket-section a and the prongs of which are secured together on opposite sides of the wheelto form a suitable support for the rear-wheel axle. The frame thus formed is triangular in outline.

a indicates the steering-fork, in the prongs of which the front-wheel axle is supported, as will later more fully appear, and the stem (1 of which extends upward and is swiveled by means of the ordinary ball-bearings (not shown) in the socket-section a of the rigid frame. The stem at projects upward through said socket a and has rigidly secured to its upper end a steering head or plate I).

To the upper end of the ball-head or socket a of the rigid frame-section is rigidly secured a T-head or cross-arm a and on the stem of the frame brace or section a is rigidly secured a block a The seat shown is formed by a U-shaped spring-metal strip a, the ends of which are rigidly but adjustably secured to the cross-bar a by means of clamps a a covering of leather or other flexible material a, secured to the bow portion of the yoke a a rear support formed by a bar of spring metal a, the upper end of which is secured to the yoke a and the lower end of which works through a suitable seat in the block a and is adjustably held by means of a setscrew a, and aspring-strip a secured at its upper end to the forward central portion of the covering a and adjustably secured at its lower end to the fram e-section a by means of a slot and set-screw a. The seat thus constructed maybe adjusted in all directions. For instance, it may be adjusted vertically both from the front and from the rear, so as to throw the seat at the desired angle to'the pedals, as well as to move the seat the proper distance from the pedals. Again, by springing the prongs of the yoke or U-shaped piece a toward or from each other the width of the seat may be varied to adapt the same to the rider, or in case the leather or flexible covering a should stretch the seat may be spread to compensate for or take up the slack.

My improved steering device comprises as one of its elements a lock which normally holds the steering-wheel in line with or parallel to the other wheels of the machine, but which lock is automatically releasable by the steering movement of the steering device. Perfectly I accomplish these results as follows: It will be noted by reference particularly to Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, that the head or plate I) on the upper end of the forkstem a has substantially the form of the segment of a circle. In this segmental head I) is formed a pair of can1-slots b, which diverge from each other as they extend from the center of the stem at. In these slots 1) are loose pins D which are connected on the upper face of the plate I) by means of a slotted bar or link b \Vorking in a suitable seat I) in the steering head or plate Z) is a sliding lock-plunger 12 which is provided with a pin 1), which works upward through a slot 1) in the plate I) and extends into the slot of the link I). The rear end of this lock-plunger b projects from its seat and normally engages with a notch 11 formed in a flange 11 of the block a on the'stem of the fra1ne-brace a. When the lock-plunger b is in engagement with the notch b of said flange b the front or steering wheel a will be held in line with the rear wheel a, which will, of course, cause the machine to move on a straight line.

In the extreme ends of the cross bar or head a are mounted the stems b of hand pieces I). To the stems b just above the ends of the cross-head a are secured rearwardly-projecting arms 1), and to the said stems, just below said cross-head 0, are secured flanged collars b. The ends of the said crosshead, as well as the under surfaces of the arms Z1 and the upper surfaces of the collars I), are provided with suitable ballgrooves, in which are mounted loose bearingballs Z7 The hubs of the arms I) are provided with set-screws I), and the hubs of the collars I) are likewise provided with setscrews 19 both of which set-screws work through said hubs and are adapted to impinge or bite onto the stems b of the handpieces I). By means of these set-screws l) and b the handpieces 12 with their stems b may be given the proper vertical adj ustment necessary to throw the said handles into the proper positions to adapt the same to the length of the rid-ers arms.

The rear ends of the arms 12 are connected one to each of the loose pins D which work in the slots 1), by means of links I)". It will be noted that the inner ends of these links I)", which engage the pins b'flwork in seats formed by a double-flanged portion 11 of the steering head or plate I).

The operation of this steering device is substantially as follows: Assume that the parts are looked, as shown in Fig. 3, and that the machine is running straight. To cause the machine to turn to the right, it is only necessary to twist one or both of the handpieces I) on their stems b as shown in Fig. 4. Under this change of position of the parts the initial movement of the right-hand member of the links I)" toward the left first forces the right-hand pin 12 forward in the slot b, thereby withd rawin g the lock-pl unger b from the notch b of the flange b and then the continued movement of the same causes the steering head or plate I) to move toward the left and, with a lever action, to turn the stem a", front fork a and wheel a, as indicated in Fig. 4. Obviously a reverse movement of the left member of the steering-handles and IIO connected parts from the position shown in Fig. 3 would likewise first retract the lockplunger b -from the notch Z9 and then would cause the steering-head b to move toward the right, which, carrying with it the stem a, fork a and wheel a, would cause the machine to turn toward the left.

It will be .noted that the forward edge of the flange b is cam-shaped, so that as the projecting end of the lock-plunger b is returned toward the notch 12 said plunger will be forced into its seat thereby, thus permitting the return of the steering-head b and parts carried thereby to their normal positions, in which positions, of course, the said lock-plunger is free to engage said notch 17 From the above-it will be seen that by operating the proper handpiece I) alone or by moving both of the said handpieces in the same direction at the same time the lock b will be thrown into its unlocking position, and there held While the steering-head b is vibrated to and fro in the steering action. If, however, itis desired to again lock the wheel in its straight-line position, this may be done by moving the handle-pieces and connected parts into their normal or central positions, and then moving the said handpieces simultaneously in opposite directions, so that the connecting-rods b" and pins 12 will be drawn apart. By this action, as must be evident, the pins Z2 working in the cam-slots Z), will carry the link b together with the lockplunger 1), rearward, so that said lock-plunger will be engaged with the notch N.

The clutch mechanisms which operate on the forward or steering. wheel a will next be described. The hub a of the forward wheel a is provided with a pair of outwardly-facing annular flanges a", to which the spokes of the wheel are secured, and also with a pair of fixed annular ball bearings or runways (0 0 indicates the spindle around which and on which the hub a of the wheel a, as well as certain other parts to be hereinafter mentioned, are mounted to rotate. This shaft 0 is reduced at its ends to form a shoulder, against which the prongs of the front fork a are clamped by means of nuts 0, working on the ends of said spindle c. The spindle c is also provided at each end, commencing at the shoulderformed at its reduced ends,with long grooves or keyways 0?. On each end of the spindle c is mounted a double-faced conebearing and a single-faced cone-bearing 0, both of which are provided with suitable.

tongue or key portions, which work in or engage the cooperating grooves 0 The said cone-bearings c and c are thus held against rotary motion but freefor movement longitudinally on the said spindle. The conebearings 0 may be forced inward on the spindle c by means of follower-nuts 0 which have screw-threaded engagement with said spindle. The flanges a of the wheel-hub a are provided with internal ratchet-teeth a.

0 indicates large cylindrical hub-sections working one on each side of the wheel-hub and provided each with a pair of rigidly-Secured ball-seat sections or runways c and 0 secured in the interior of the same. When mounted forwork, bearing-balls 0 work in series, respectively, between the inner facesof the double cone-bearingsc and the cooperating seat-section between the outer faces of said double cone-bearings c and the cooperating ball-bearing sections 0 and between the cone-faees of the cone-bearings c and the ball-bearing sections 0 It is important here to note that thedouble-faced cone-bearings c are loose for movementlongitudinally on the spindle c. In virtue of this fact by simply tightening on' the follower-nut c and thereby forcing the conebearing 0 inward the said double-faced conehearing 0 will be caused to assume its proper position on the spindle, so that all of the bearing-balls on a given side of the hub will be pressed with equal tension by the bearingsurfaces withwhich they engage.

Each of the cylindrical hubs c is provided at its inner end with a collar or annular flange c" and with another and larger flange 0 located a little distance inward from the collar or flange 0 Each of the ball-bearing sections 0 is also provided with a radiallyprojecting lug or ear 0.

Other portions of the clutch mechanisms which cooperate with each of the ends and flanges a" of the wheel-hub a will now be described in the singular. Mounted by means of pivot-pins 0 between the flanges c and 0 of the hub c are a series (as shown four) of driving-pawls 0 0 Of these pawls the ones marked 0 are mounted on pivot-pins 0 which are fixed against lateral movement, while the pin 0 of the pawl 0 is mounted in slots 0 out in the flanges 0 0 These slots 0 allow the pawl e to be thrown ahead and outward in advance of an angle drawn at ninety degrees to the adjacent rearward pawl 0 and this pawl 0 may therefore, for the sake of clearn'ess, be termed a leader.

The pawl is held outward to the limit of said slots 0 by means of a light leaf-spring 0 secured at one end to the hub c and bearing against the hub of said pawl with its other end.

0 indicates a loose ring of larger diameter than the flange 0-", but of less diameter than the flange 0 the inner edge of which works with a light friction in an annular grooved seat 0 formed in the-radially-flanged portion of the wheel-hub a. The outer edge of this ring 0 is provided with a pin 0, which works in a circular slot 0 cut in the flange 0 This ring 0 is provided with suitable seats or peripheral passages, through which the free ends of the pawls 0 and 0 work to and fro. As this ring 0 is to control the ratchet-engaging movements of thesaid pawls, it may be well termed the pawl-ring.

On the spindle c,between the cone-bearin gs c and 0 is a collar c which is provided with a key 0 which also engages in the kcyway 0 By this key the collar, while free for sliding movement on said spindle,is held from rotary movement. To this collar 0 is rig idly secured one end of a spiral spring 0 the other end of which spring is rigidly secured to the interior of the cylindrical hub 0 The spring 0 is wound in such a direction that it tends to turn the hub c" in a direction opposite to that in which the wheel a is moved under the advanced movement of the machine.

The propelling mechanism for imparting motion to the machine will now be described.

Both of the prongs of the front fork a are provided with extensions or arms a to the lower ends of which are rigidly secured the lower ends of pedal-guide rods f. These pedal-guide rods f extend one on each side of the wheel a, substantially parallel to the stem of the front fork, and the extreme upper ends of the same are bent inward and forward and rigidly united to the upper portions of the front fork a. The pedal-guide rods f are provided with continuous longitudinal flanges or ribs f, which serve to strengthen and stiffen the said guide-rods, as well as to prevent the pedals from turning on the same.

f indicate the pedals, which are provided with sleeve portions f which fit and work longitudinally on the guide-rods f and are prevented from turning by means of the flanges f. The extreme downward movement of the pedalsf is limited by means of stops f, which are pivoted one to each of the extended supports (L in such position that they normally intercept the movement of the pedal-sleeves f These pivoted stops f are springheld in their normal positions by means of springs and are provided with projecting free ends f, with which the riders foot, by a peculiar movement hereinafter described, may be engaged.

On the pedal-guide rods f, above the pedals f f and near the extreme upper ends of said rods f, is adjustably secured a rollerbracket f which is adj ustably secured on said rods f by means of set-screws f On this roller-bracket f are loosely mounted three antifriction-sheaves f.

The loose cylindrical hubs c are each provided with peripheral cam-grooves 0 which are formed on the line of a spiral or screw. On each of these hubs c is loosely mounted a large drum f which is provided with feathers or tongues f, which work one in each of the spiral cam-grooves 0 It will be noted by reference particularly to Figs. 9 and 20 that the large drum f is about one-half the width of that portion of the hub c which projects outward beyond the flange or pawldisk 0 In connection with each of the clutch mechanisms and drums are the following devices:

f indicates an anchor-bar, the ends of which are mounted in suitable seats f formed in the lugs and flanges c c of the loose hub a. It will be noted by reference particularly to Figs. 21 and 22 that these scat portions 1' are of such radial dimensions that the said anchor-bar may move a slight distance radially therein. The body of this anchor-bar f works through a tangential slot or seat f, formed in the large drum f This slot or seat f is of sufficient length to permit a considerable movement of the anchor-barf therein and extends outward to the periphery of said drum to form a channel f, which is open on its inner side, but closed 011 its outer side, as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 21 to 28. Normally the large drum f stands as shown in Fig. 9, and the periphery of the hub 0 between said drum f and the pawl-disk 0 serves as the smaller of the two winding or drum sections upon which the flexible driving strap or connection is wound.

The two anchor-bars f on the opposite sides of the wheel-hub are connected by a suitable flexible driving connection, which, as shown, is in the form of a flat strap f arranged to run over the three guide-sheaves f on the bracket f. This flexible connection f is of such length that when it is moved in one direction it will permit the reverse movements of the hubs or cylindrical section 0, thus causing one of the spiral springs 0 to be wound up While permitting the other to unwind. In the normal positions of the winding-drum sections, as shown in Fig. 9, the ends of the flexible connection f work on'the small drum-sections formed by the hubs c.

The hubs f of the opposite pedals f are connected by means of a flexible connection or strap f", which also runs over the three guide-sheaves f" on the bracket f. The two flexible connections f and f" are yoked or otherwise rigidly secured together near their central portions, as shown at f (See particularly Figs. 17 and 19.) The relations of the straps f and f",pedals f ,winding-drums 0 f and springs are such that when, for example, the right foot is forced downward to its normal limit the left pedal and foot will be forced upward, the right-side end of the connection f will be wound on the cooperating drum-section under the action of the right spring 0 while the left-side end of said connection f will be unwound from the cooperating drum-section against the action of the left-hand spring 0 Returning now to the operation of the clutch mechanisms under the pending action, it will be noted that the downstroke of the right pedal, for example, throws the left-side clutch device into action on the forward wheel. The action of this clutch mechanism noted in detail is substantially as follows: The down movement of the right foot will, as before stated, carry the loose sleeve or hub c, together with the parts carried thereby, forward in the direction of the travel of the Wheel a, but at a more rapid rate of speed. Now, as the pawl-ring c has a greater friction against the radial flange of the wheel-hub a than it has against the pawl-disk 0 it will be retarded in its forward movement with respect to the hub c and pawl-disk 0 and hence will simultaneously throw the guiding-pawls 0 and c outward toward the ratchet-teeth c1 of the hub-flange a"; but the leader-pawl a, being forced to the outward limit of the slot 0 by the action of the spring 0 will be the first to engage with the said ratchet-teeth a. This leader pawl 0 having been engaged with the teeth a will be driven backward to the limit of the slots 0, at the limit of which movement the other three pawls 0 will be forced to the bottom of the ratchetteeth a This leader-pawl, movin gas it does into engagement with the teeth (L in advance of the pawl serves to throw the said ratchet-teeth a into such relation with respect to the pawls 0 that when the said pawls 0 are subsequently thrown into engagement therewith they will be moved directly to the bottom of the engaged teeth. This action prevents the ends of the pawls e from catching onthe points of the ratchet-' teeth.

The slipping movement of the pawl-ringc is limited by the engagement of the pin 0 in the slot 0 of the pawLdisk 0 As the right foot is raised and the left foot loweredthis left member of the hub-sections 0 will under the action of its spring 0 be moved in a reverse direction from the movement of the forward wheel a. Under this action the pawlring a will byits frictional engagement with the vertical flange or seat portion 0 of the hub a be moved forward with respect to the hub c and pawl-disk c as far as permitted by the slots 0 and pin 0 This movement of the pawl-rin g serves to retract or withdraw the drivingpawls 0 and'c from engagement with the ratchet-teeth a. It will thus be seen that the paWLand-ratchet device is rendered silent in its action bymeans of the slipping pawl-ring c". It will of course be understood that under the pedaling action the clutch devices are alternately rendered active on the wheel-hub 61, and that either one orthe other will always be active thereon.

Under the action above described the flexible connection f is wound onto and unwound from the hubs 0 which serve as the small members of the winding-drums.

Directing attention now particularly to Figs. 9, 18, and 19 it will become apparent that if one of the large winding-drums f is caused to turn backward on the hub 0 against the direction of the wheels travel or if the said drum f is held from rotation while the hub c is permitted to rotate forward with the front wheel the said drum f will, by the action of the spiral groove-and-feather connections 0 be caused to move from the positions shown in Figs. 16 and 20 into the positions shown by one of the hubs of Fig. 18 and in Fig. 23. In this position the flexible connection f will be wound on the said large drum-section f This sliding or shifting to be thrown against the outer face of the channel f to intercept or stop the rotary movement of. the particular drum f as will presently appear. The inner wall of the channel f of each wheel f is formed with a pair of openings g and g g indicates a retaining-spring, the inner end of which is rigidly secured to the drum f and the free end of which is bent to form two projecting beaks or points g g, which work, respectively, outward through the passages g and The inner face of the stop-block g is provided with a detent notch or depression 9 and with a slot 9 the ends, of which are left open. The beak g is adapted for engagement with these depressions g and g in a manner andfor a purpose which will presently appear. The ends of the flexible connections f are also provided, just outward of the stop-lugs c with cam-lugs g, which are adapted to engage the beak portions g of the springs g and to engage into the passages g of the inner walls of the channels f in a manner which will also presently appear.

Attention is here called to the fact that by the extreme normal downward movement of one of the pedalsfor example, the right memberagainst the pivoted stop f the left side end of the flexible connection f is thrown into the position indicated in Figs. 17 and 21, by reference to whichit will be seen that the said flexible connection is not thrown quite into straight line with the channel f and that the stop-lug g has not been moved into the channel f or against the rear wall of the same. Hence the hub c and the cooperating loose drum f will have no other tendency than to rotate together, and the ends of the flexible connection will, under the pedaling action, continue to be Wound onto and unwound from the section of said hub of, which serves as the smaller member of the windingdrums.

When it is desired to shift the large winding sections or drums f so that the flexible connection f will be wound onto and unwound therefrom, this may be accomplished very easily. by the rider without dismounting or without slackin g the propelling motion. To accomplish this, the rider, as he forces one footfor example, the right footdownward to the extremelimit of the pedals normal movement at the same time presses his toe downward beyond a natural position, so as to strike the free end f of the right-side stop f ,'thus removing said stop f from the path of the pedal-sleeve f and permitting the pedal f to be thrown downward in to the extreme position shown in Fig. 19. This extreme downward movement of the right pedal turned the left member of the hubs 1'' into an extreme forward or advanced position, as shown in Fig. 19; but it will be noted that by this extreme forward movement the stop-lug g on the left end of the strap or connection f was by the initial portion of this extreme movement thrown against the outer wall of the channel or groove f in the drum f This stop-finger g thus became a stop and served to limit or intercept the farther forward movement of said drum f but the hub was moved on forward after the drum f was thus stopped. This movement of the hub in advance of the drum f was of course produced against the tension of the cooperating spring 0 and the cam action of the groove-and-feather connections c and f positively forced the left drum-section f from the position shown in Figs. 9, 20, and 16 into the position shown in Figs. 18 and By this movement it will be noted the channel or slot f of the drum f was moved over or caused to straddle the end of the flexible connection f and hence the said connection will now be wound onto and unwound from these large drum-sections f It will be understood, of course, that to effeet the shifting of both of the large drums f the right-side member of the same must be shifted by an extreme downward-trippin g movement of the left foot, which causes an operation similar to that just described. 1

The action of the springs g g g should be here noted. Under the action just described it will be remembered that after the stop-lug g intercepted the movement of the drum f the collar c together with the parts carried thereby, including, of course, the anchor-bar f, were given a slight rotary movement onward. This movement permitted the stoplug g to move outward in the channel f, so that the detent-notch g thereof was engaged by the beak g of the spring g. This engagement of the beak g with the detent-notch 9 serves to prevent the return movement of the strap f and thereby holds the hub c from return rotary movement with respect to the drum f under the action of the spring 0 Evidently the time at which this return movement of the hub o with respect to the drum f would tend to take place would be just as the strap f is given its first slack or release by the upstroke of the foot on the opposite side of the machine and before the said strap has been wound onto the drum f" but, as just described, this is prevented by the engagement of the beak gwith the detentnotch 1 As the strap or connection f is wound onto the drum f the cam-lug g is forced against the beak g of the spring g and then is inserted into the passage By this action the beak g of the spring was forced out of the detent-notch g and into the open-ended slot of the stop lug'g. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 31 that the slot g is cut on an angle to the strap or connection. f. The line of this slotindieates the direction of the movement of the stop-lug g with respect to the spring-beak under the compound sidewise and rotary movement of the said parts with respect to each other caused by the spiral movement of the drum f on the hub 0 hen the beak g is engaged with the slot 9 it no longer serves as a lock to prevent the return movement of the hub c with respect to the drum f but this return movement is now prevented by the friction of the strap f on the drum f and also by the engagement of the cam-lug g with the passage or seat 9 To shift the drums f back into their normal positions with respect to the hubs f, it is only necessary for the rider to again force one foot and then the other into extreme downward positions by tripping the pivoted stops f, as indicated in Fig. 19. This extreme downward movement of, for example, the right foot again throws the channelf of the left-side drum f into straight line with the strapf as shown in Fig. 28. The springbeak g now being engaged with the open slot 9 of the stop-1ug 9 will offer no resistance to the inward movement of said stop-lug, and hence upon the initial slack or release of the left end of the strap f caused by the up-' ward movement of the right foot, the spring 0 is permitted to become active to throw the left-side hub c in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in Fig. 28; but as the stoplug g has been drawn outward in the channel f beyond the slot g the drum f will not be allowed to return with the sleeve 0 until said lug has been drawn inward in line with said slot 9 by the spiral movement of said collars 0 within said drum f at which time the said drum f will have been moved outward into its normal position. The return of the two large drums f must, of course, be accomplished one after the other by the successive downward movement of the opposite pedals.

The brake device which I have shown comprises simply a friction blade or spoon 7c, pivoted at one end to the yoke of the front fork in position to engage the tire of the front wheel and connected at its free end to a pair of rods 7t, extending 011 opposite sides of the wheel, working through suitable keeperguides 76 on the front-fork prongs, and terminating at their lower ends in laterally-projecting foot-pieces k The brake-spoon 7c is normally held out of engagement with the wheel by a coiled spring These footpieces k stand in such positions that they will normally be cleared by the riders feet. The rider may, however, by throwing his toes slightly inward engage either one or bot-h of these foot-pieces 70 Attention is also called to the fact that the brake foot-pieces k are located at such heights that the pedals f pass each other adjacent thereto. In virtue of IIO . of construction.

this fact the rider may apply the brakes wit-l1- out removing his feet from the pedals. It must be obvious that this brake may be readily applied with any desired force from the lightest to an extremely powerful application of the brake.

In connection with the bracketf and guidesheaves f carried thereby, it is important to note that as this bracket is adjustable longitudinally on the pedal guide-rods f the said bracket and sheaves may be used as a belttightener, by means of which the slack of the flexible connection f may be taken up.

A few general observations of certain of the advantages of my machine may be here made.

By reference particularly to Figs. 1, 17, and 19 itwill be noted that the pedals f are mounted for reciprocating motions on their guiderods f, which extend at such a forward angle that while the riders feet are permitted full strokes without interference from the ground yet that when his feet are removed from the pedals and allowed tohan g straight downward they may touch the ground. This feature of construction makes the machine very easy to mount and dismount and greatly decreases the liability to accidents by being thrown from the machine. Again, it will be noted, by reference particularly to Fig. 1, that the seat, the handpieces b, pedals f and guide-rodsf are so positioned and related to each other that in the propelling action the riders hands, shoulders, and feet will be kept substantially always in a straight line to each other. This gives the rider the advantages of a straightline pull with his back and arms straight, which of course enables him to use his strength to the greatest advantage. Again, as the pedals and pedal guide-rods are carried with the fork of the front or steering wheel a the rider may, by forcing the pedals forward or rearward with his feet, control the steering movements of said wheel even without the assistance of the hand-operated steering devices. Of course for the best control of the wheel the hand operated steering devices would be used; but even when these hand devices are used the steering action may also be more or less controlled by the riders feet. It will be understood, of course, that while I have in the above description of the preferred form of my invention described the same as applied to a bicycle and used various specific terms in describing the parts thereof, yet that I do not intend to limit myself either to this particular use or to these particular details On the contrary, it should be understood that various alterations in these details of construction may be made without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows: 1. A propelling mechanism comprising a pair of clutches, one section of each of which clutches is movable with the traction-wheel and the other section of which is loose, apair of winding-drums carried by each of said loose clutch-sections, a pair of pedals, flexible connections connected to said. pedals, and engageable, at will, with either member of the pair of winding-drums, substantially as described.

2. A propelling mechanism comprising a pair of clutches, onesection of each of which is movable with the traction-wheel and the other section of which is loose, a pair of windin g-drums carried by each of said loose clutchsections, a pair of pedals, a pair of flexible connections connecting said pedals, and a shifting device which is tripped by the ,extreme downward movement of the riders foot and is operative to shift said flexible connection from one to the other of the sections of said winding drums, substantially as described. I

3. A propelling mechanism comprising a pair of clutches, one section of each of which clutches is movable with the traction-wheel and the other sect-ion of which is loose,small drum-sections rigidly secured to said loose clutch-sections, large drum-sections mounted for spiral movement on said small drum-section and provided with face-channels, a pair of pedals mount-ed for reciprocating motions, a pair of flexible connections secured together at their intermediate portions and connecting the pedals-with each other and to the small members of said winding drum sections, springs tending to move said small drum-sections against the advanced movement of the wheel, and a shifting device tripped by the extreme downward movement of the riders foot and adapted to throw the drum-attached ends of said flexible connections into the face-- channels of said large drum-sections, and thereby to shift the same, substantially as described.

4. A propelling mechanism comprisinga pair of clutches, one section of each of which is movable with the traction-wheel and the other of which is loose, the hubs or drum-sections 0 secured to the loose clutch-sections and provided with the lug portion 0 the large drum-sections f mounted for spiral movement on said small drum-sections c and provided with the passages f 14 and face-channels f the anchor-bar f working through said passages f and seated in the lug c of saiddrum 0, the pedal guide-rods f, the pedals f movable on said guide-rodsf, the pair of flexible connections f f connecting said pedals f together and to said anchor-barsf the pivoted trip-stopsf at the lower ends of the guide-rods f, and the stop-lugs g on the ends of the flexible connection cooperating with the face-grooves f to shift said dru m f substantially as described.

5. The propelling mechanism comprisinga pair of clutches, one section of each of which is movable with the traction-wheel and the other of which is loose, the pair of hubs or drum-sections c secured to the loose clutchsections and provided with the lug portions too ' said lugs e and flanges the pedal guide rods f, the pedals f movable on said guiderodsf, the pair of flexible connections fflf connecting said pedals together and to the anchor-bars f the pivoted trip-stopsf' at the lower ends of said rods f, the stop-lugs g secured on the connection f provided with detent-notches and slots 9 the cam-lugs g also secured on said connectiouf and the springs g 9 9 carried by said drums f working through passages 9 9 thereof, and cooperating with the lugs g and g, substantially as described.

(3. In a cycle, the combination with a pair of independentl-y-swiveled steei-inghandles, of a steering head or plate secured to the upper end of the pivoted fork-stem, a latch carried by said steering-head, operative to positively hold the steering-wheel in line with or parallel to the other wheel or wheels of the cycle, and connections from said handpieces to said steering-head and to said look, so arranged as to move said steering-head or to operate said look, at will, substantially as described.

I 7. In a cycle, the combination with the steering head or plate I) secured to the upper end of the pivoted fork-stern, and provided with the cam-slots b in which work loose pins 72 of the reciprocating latch 0 carried by said head I) and cooperating with the notched flange 11 b on the cycle-frame, the link b engaging said pins and a projection b of the lock 0', the swiveled hand-bars b 11 pro vided with arms I), and the links b connecting said arms 11 to said pins 11 substantially as described.

8. In a cycle, the combination with the steering head or plate Z) secured to the upper end of the pivoted fork-stem and provided with the cam-slots Z) in which work loose pins 0 of the reciprocating latch b carried by said head I) and cooperating with the notched flange b Won the cycle-frame, the link 19 engaging said pins 1) and a projection b of the look If, the swiveled handle-bars 19 ,12 mounted for vertical adjustments and provided with adjustable arms I), and the links I)" connecting said arms hi to said pins 6 substantially as described.

9. Acluteh device, comprising two parts r0 tatable independently of each other, one having ratchet-teeth and the other carrying one or more pawls, and the pawl-ring 0 provided with passages through which the free ends of said pawl or pawls pass, said ring having a limited rotary movement with respect to one section of said clutch, and having frictional engagement with the other section thereof, whereby said pawl or pawls are rendered silent in their action on said ratchet-teeth, substantially as described.

10. A clutch device, comprising two parts rotatable independently of each other, one having ratchet-teeth and the other carrying a series of pawls, one of which pawls is springheld in advance of the others, and a pawlring with which said pawls engage,said ring having a limited rotary movement with respect to one of said Clutch-sections and havin g frictional engagement with the other section thereof, substantially as described.

11. The combination with the wheel-hub provided with the internal ratchet-teeth, of the pair of loose hubs provided with a pawl disk or flange, the series of pawls mounted on said pawl-disk and engageable with said ratchet-teeth, one of which pawls is mounted for limited endwise movement andis springheld in advance of the others, and the loose pawl-ring through .which said pawls work, said pawl-ring being mounted for a limited rotary motion with respect to the pawl-disk and having frictional engagement with the flange of said wheel-hub, substantially as described.

12. The combination withthe wheel-hub carrying the ball-seat a, of the spindle a provided with keyways 0 the loose hub 0 pro-' vided with ball-seats c and 0 the doublefaced cone-bearing c and the single-faced cone-bearing 0, both free for sliding movem cut but fixed from rotary movement on said spindle by means of key portions working in I the grooves or keyways c and bearing-balls working between said cone-bearings and the cooperating ballseats, substantially as described.

13. The combination with the wheel-hub carrying the ball-seat a, of the spindle 0 provided with keyways 0 the loose hub 0 provided with ball-seats c and a the doublefaced cone-bearing c and the single-faced cone-bearing both free for sliding movement but fixed from rotary movement on said spindle by means of key portions working in the grooves or keyways c, the follower or jamnut 0 screw-threaded on the end of said spindle and working against said cone-bearin g 0 and bearin g-balls working between said cone-bearings and the cooperating ball-seats, substantially as described.

14. A seat, comprising the lateiallvadjustable spring yoke-bar a, and the flexible covering a stretched over the bow of the same and rigidly secured thereto, substantially as described.

15. A seat comprising the laterally-adjustable spring yoke-bar a", a flexible covering a secured thereto, the spring front bar to sup porting the forwardcentral portion of the covering a and the rear spring-bar (L12 secured at its upper end tothe bow of said bar a", substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS HILL. Witnesses:

HARRY KILGORE, F. I). MERCHANT. 

